eigenvector

6 ms·

31.
by eigenvector 6y ago
Yes, this function exists in some fashion in every grid (although the economic setup of how you're paid for that service differs widely). The problem in ERCOT is demand massively exceeding available supply over a period of days. You ne
32.
by eigenvector 6y ago
ERCOT is pretty good about releasing their event analysis after the fact. I think the main issue with renewables is not inherent unreliability but that grid operators do not understand the potential contingencies as well as with conventiona
33.
by eigenvector 6y ago
The technical term for what you're describing is under-frequency load shedding (UFLS) and it is part of most modern power systems around the world, including all of the North American grids. It is an important safeguard against system
34.
by eigenvector 6y ago
The base capacity is 64 GB now , but lots of phones of 32 GB and even 16 are still usable (the original iPhone SE, for instance, was sold in a 16 GB version and runs the latest iOS). These older phones are way more common outside of the US
35.
by eigenvector 6y ago
I agree that of all developed countries, tipping is most prevalent in the USA, but as a fellow Canadian I wouldn't assume our Amazon delivery people are being paid anymore. They are independent contractors and not subject to minimum wa
36.
by eigenvector 6y ago
For a long time this sort of worked for both sides as the bathroom foot traffic would often buy some small item in the store and most items sold at gas stations have a hefty markup. Buying a Coke for $3 might net as much profit for the gas
37.
by eigenvector 6y ago
The Canadian government paid Deloitte $16M for exactly the same thing, with a deadline of January 31 to get it running. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/ottawa-gives-accounting-firm... One of the factors cited in awardi
38.
by eigenvector 6y ago
Now think of the problem in reverse, from the government's side. Why are they contracting it out when all of the most difficult aspects involve integrating with government systems, policies and personnel - things that government alread
39.
by eigenvector 6y ago
A seaplane flight over the west coast of Vancouver Island from bases in Tofino or Gold River is a wonderful and affordable flight-seeing excursion as well (around $500/hour total for 3 passengers).
40.
by eigenvector 6y ago
Nothing inherent to cell phone networks causes them to go down during power outages. Just like POTS they need a backup power supply for their infrastructure to remain functional when the power grid is down. Usually this takes the form of di
41.
by eigenvector 6y ago
Hi there, I checked out your website. It's a cool idea and one that is needed. What do you think of the fact that many of the products are in fact disposable by backed by a "lifetime" warranty precisely because they're s
42.
A Nepali team has made the first winter ascent of K2(alpinist.com)
304 points by eigenvector 6y ago|131 comments
43.
by eigenvector 6y ago
Indeed. I've had the good fortune to pass long periods of time (from days to months) hiking and it's amazing what entertainment just meeting a new person after weeks can provide. And no matter what book you bring along, you will f
44.
by eigenvector 6y ago
It's not just 5V, though. PD can supply up to 20 V and poor implementation can brick 5 V devices by supplying the wrong voltage.
45.
by eigenvector 6y ago
The absolute worst was a Dell laptop I had around 2008 with a combination USB-A/eSATA port. If you tried to plug a USB connector in upside down, you were basically connecting the USB pins of the device to the SATA part of the port and
46.
by eigenvector 6y ago
If you think USB is bad, try looking at all the various things that can be connected together with M.2 slots vs. the pairs of devices that will actually work together despite having the same slot. I have a degree in electrical engineering a
47.
by eigenvector 6y ago
You're right, but it's important to note that offshore is only about 1/10 of the global wind power industry.
48.
by eigenvector 6y ago
The "who has the biggest turbine" race between wind turbine OEMs is the Formula 1 of the wind industry. It's mostly about bragging rights and long-range R&D. The vast majority of new turbines being installed today are in
49.
by eigenvector 6y ago
Well said. To paraphrase Wade Davis, the question is not hydro or no hydro but where, how much and for whose benefit. Many dams produce very little electricity and can be removed with minimal impact to the cost or carbon intensity of our po
50.
by eigenvector 6y ago
From a hydrotechnical perspective, it's a feature not a bug. You do not want sediment going through your turbines. Suspended sediment is a major maintenance issue for run of river hydro plants.
51.
RIP Google Play Music, 2011 – 2020(arstechnica.com)
10 points by eigenvector 6y ago|0 comments
52.
by eigenvector 6y ago
From a security perspective, ChromeOS bothers me because it has a much shorter software support lifecycle than the hardware lifespan. We have ChromeOS devices out there are perfectly able to run the latest ChromeOS in terms of specs but are
53.
by eigenvector 6y ago
In almost every developed country in the world except the United States, it would be illegal to sell a defective item then refuse to refund or replace it, whether it's $1 or $10,000. Consumer protection regimes are a real thing that ex
54.
by eigenvector 6y ago
No, at a basic level how much they make per user is not the user's problem. That's Google's chosen business model. You cannot sell a defective thing then when the customer comes back say "sorry, we actually only made $0.
55.
by eigenvector 6y ago
It's also much easier to do hard things when you're making billions of dollars. I find the argument that Google et al cannot -afford- to do anything but treat their users in an arbitrary, high-hanged way unconvincing.
56.
by eigenvector 6y ago
Respectfully, as a power systems engineer, I'm unable to grasp how what you're describing is beneficial compared to current power networks or how it respects the underlying physics of electricity. The design of power transmission
57.
by eigenvector 6y ago
It only costs about $50 USD for a battery replacement from an authorized Apple service provider. If you're satisfied with the device otherwise, a new battery will keep it going for far cheaper than a new device.
58.
by eigenvector 6y ago
You appear to be conflating Intel's 1990s antitrust woes and the success of the Core microarchitecture which launched in 2006. Despite Intel's well-documented anti-competitive practices, AMD had decisively gained the upper hand in
59.
by eigenvector 6y ago
"Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West" is a fascinating look at that topic as well.
60.
by eigenvector 6y ago
ZIP code verification is commonly used for credit card authentication at gas pumps in the US, especially before the advent of chip & PIN. This is immensely annoying for Canadians who drive their cars to the US, although there are some b

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